Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes.
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh
I’ve been restless lately. My morning reflection period has become difficult and strained. I try to focus, to sit in prayer. I am drifting and impatient. I move too quickly through my morning readings. I need to get them done, to move on to the next thing. I have not seen. I am not looking. I am having a hard time seeing the bush afire with God. The trouble is I have seen the bush, rich and red and full of glory. I’ve lived with God’s spirit and moved in the grace that he offers. I’ve seen it, I just can’t see it now because I’m not looking. I’ve got too much to do.I have crammed so much into my life that there isn’t room enough for God. I need to make room once more. I need to look for the bush that’s on fire.
I haven’t been looking. I’ve been busy trying to do it all and I haven’t let God in to help. I haven’t done the necessary spirit-care that a soul needs. I’ve turned inwards. I’ve stopped looking for bushes. I want to see them once more, to feel God in my life. I want that fire and passion back. I remember the passion. In the summer when I was not working but simply living it came easy to me. It was there and vibrant and so real. Now that I’m juggling work and home and life and God I’ve forgotten what it means to balance, to say no, to ask for help.
I want to see bushes once more. To feel God working in my life and allow his peace into my midst. I want to see the little moments daily when God pops in. I want bushes once more. I’ve decided from now on that I will look for a bush daily. One moment that signifies God is there, really there. One bush that serves as a reminder to let God in, to take off my shoes and exist in his presence.
Here is my bush for today. A real living bush that’s afire with the presence of God. When I saw this bush I was reminded that there is beauty in everything even the end of things. That God makes all things possible and that with time and patience we will see what possibilities lay within our midst. This bush comes to life in the fall. This is my bush. This is my reminder.
